You wouldn't know it, but throbbing away in the upper two floors of that tiny wedge of a building splitting Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue is Rise: Boston's only after-hours nightclub. Owner Tom Beaulieu recalls the loss of the Loft, and the city's desperate need for a "safe place for people to go late at night." After meeting many, many landlords, he opened what has since become Boston's house HQ, treasured for its cutting-edge talent, steakhead-free environs, kicking sound system, and, 10 years in, still decidedly underground feel (even two floors up). To celebrate, Rise has booked three full weekends of parties — the kind that end with you eating breakfast. Get the full schedule and details at www.riseclub.us, and check out a small sampling below.
Martijn ten Velden | "I Wish You Would" | January 16
If you threw out your hip in 2007, it's likely that had something to do with Martijn ten Velden's ubiquitous dance-floor anthem. The London-based producer (whose Toolroom Knights label kicks off a residency this Friday) has plenty of fresh stuff on his MySpace, but this clip of the classic is worth revisiting.
Mind Control | "Peter Bailey and Richie Santana at Yalta" | January 23
Says Rise resident DJ Mike Swells (who spins January 24): "Peter Bailey and Richie Santana have been production beasts on their own for some time, but the life as the duo really comes together in the DJ booth." Check this clip of a performance at a club in Bulgaria — so hard and soft, rich and spare, classy and dirty.
Steve Porter | "Hott Love (Steve Porter remix)" | January 30
Although Beaulieu values his club's interest in reflecting "global music," he also knows something good in his backyard when he hears it. Witness Steve Porter, whose first gig was at Rise and who now tours the world thanks to his ravenously received Porterhouse mixes. Here, a track released last November on Porter's own PH Recordings imprint — may he play this at Rise.
Peter Rauhofer | "Peter Rauhofer at Mansion, 11.30.08" | January 31
This clip of the Grammy-winning remixer extraordinaire — Madonna, Mariah, Christina, Britney, you name it — is awesome, and not just for its ample distribution of go-go boys. Listen to that squeal he lets hang there to kill everyone for the first 30 seconds before setting up some brutal low-end spank shop.
